Trial for Noblesville school shooting suspect is postponed

Hear from Jason Seaman, the Noblesville West teacher who helped stop the school shooting in his classroom, in a one-on-one interview with IndyStar.
Jenna Watson, jenna.watson@indystar.com, IndyStar

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A rainy gloomy morning set the scene for the initial hearing for accused Noblesville West Middle School shooter at Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center, Monday, June 11, 2018.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)Buy Photo

Noblesville — Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Paul Felix has decided to delay the trial of the 13-year-old-boy accused of shooting a teacher and a student multiple times May 25 at Noblesville West Middle School.

The boy's attorney asked the judge to reschedule the trial — or "fact-finding hearing" as it's known in juvenile court — which had been scheduled for June 25-26. Felix hasn't yet scheduled a new date, said Orval Schierholz, Hamilton County administrator of courts.

Trials are often delayed in cases like this with a lot of evidence involved, Schierholz said.

There is, however, no guarantee there will be a trial. If a plea agreement is reached, it's likely that little additional detail will become public.

IndyStar is not naming the suspect because he is not being charged as an adult.

Hamilton County Prosecutor D. Lee Buckingham said that if the boy were an adult, he would have faced 11 counts, including two felony charges each of attempted murder, aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

A suspect must be at least 14 years old to be eligible to be waived to adult court on charges of attempted murder.

What prompted the shooting, exactly what occurred in the classroom, and where the boy obtained the handguns is still unclear. Authorities have released few details.

Court documents released earlier this month indicate that the suspect used a .22-caliber handgun in the shooting and also was in possession of a .45-caliber handgun and a knife.